Indonesians began voting in the world's biggest single-day election on Wednesday as polling stations opened across following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament.

President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.

Indonesians began voting in the world's biggest single-day election on Wednesday as polling stations opened across following a six-month campaign to choose a new president and parliament.

President Joko Widodo, a former furniture salesman who launched his political career as a small-city mayor, is standing for re-election in a contest with ex-general Prabowo Subianto, whom he narrowly defeated in 2014.